Oakland’s Housing Crisis Outpacing Solutions

The City of Oakland lost 43,777 African-American residents—one-third of its African-American population—between 2002-2014 due the housing crisis.

And for nearly 12,000 African-American families, housing consumes 50 percent of their income.

At least 150,000 new jobs are expected to boost the East Bay’s economy by 2020. Housing production is not keeping up for those most in need, including seniors on fixed incomes, students, low wage workers, artists, teachers, and nurses.

Michelle Byrd

So what is the city doing right now to address this issue?

Michele Byrd, director of Housing and Community Development said, “As part of the two-year 2017-19 budget, the City Council authorized $2.2 million over two years, earmarked to help stem housing displacement.

“There was a six month delay in releasing the Year One funds of $700,000. The matter of awarding a two-year contract for both years of funding goes before City Council before their recess in late July. Once passed, the Housing and Community Development department will provide applicable assistance allocating Year One funds beginning in July [and] Year Two funding, totaling $1.5 million is on track to be disbursed at the same time.”

The City of Oakland projects that 34,000 affordable homes will be needed to end the current housing crisis, and although the City is on target to meet that mark, it will take more than eight years to get there.